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Former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso reveals Barcelona contact

Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso reveals that he came close to joining Barcelona rather than Real Madrid when he left Liverpool.

Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso has revealed that he came close to joining Barcelona when he was at Liverpool.

Alonso joined Real Madrid in 2009 after spending five years with Liverpool, but the Spaniard has claimed that he almost moved to Camp Nou after "a conversation between Rafael Benitez and Pep Guardiola".

"It was the summer that Liverpool wanted to sell me, and there was a conversation between Rafa [Benitez] and Pep [Guardiola]," Alonso told El Pais.

"Pep told me about it in Germany. He told Rafa that he liked me a lot and I would fit very well with his way of playing, but Busquets had started in the first team and had tremendous potential. So Pep opted for him, and he was not mistaken. He turned into a great player for them.

"It was not that I was uncomfortable at Madrid, but I had been there five years and after winning La Decima I wanted to try something else."

Alonso, 35, has scored nine times in 111 appearances for Bayern since joining the German champions.

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 Jordi Alba of Spain jumps on teammate Xabi Alonso in celebration after a goal on a penalty kick by Alonso in the first half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Spain and Netherlands at Arena Fonte Nova on June 13, 2014
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona30214583295467
2Real Madrid30196563313263
3Atletico MadridAtletico30179449242560
4Athletic Bilbao301412446242254
5Villarreal29139751391248
6Real BetisBetis3013984137448
7Celta Vigo30127114443143
8Real Sociedad30125133032-241
9Rayo Vallecano301010103335-240
10Mallorca30117122937-840
11Getafe30109113025539
12Sevilla3099123441-736
13GironaGirona3097143746-934
14Osasuna2971393342-934
15Valencia30810123447-1334
16Espanyol2988133140-932
17AlavesAlaves3079143344-1130
18Leganes2969142846-1827
19Las PalmasLas Palmas3068163451-1726
20Real ValladolidValladolid3044221969-5016


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